York Chow denies there was a failure in communication
The health minister has denied there are any flaws in communications with the mainland, despite complaints from fish traders yesterday of confusion over a sudden halting of imports from across the border.
Hong Kong fish traders claimed exports of all freshwater fish and 70 per cent of other seafood items including saltwater fish, shrimps and mussels were suspended by mainland authorities yesterday.
The traders were only informed by their mainland suppliers about the suspension on Saturday night but were given no reasons, said Tommy Hui Hon-man, chairman of the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Freshwater Fish Wholesale Association.
'We were told by our mainland suppliers that they were blocked at the checkpoint and were told not to send their fish stocks to Hong Kong. But there were no explanations for the arrangement ...We did not know why the mainland authorities suddenly came up with the measure. That was really frustrating,' Mr Hui said.
The Macau government, meanwhile, said it had been informed by the mainland about the suspension of mainland seafood imports on Saturday night.